1960’s Music Artists

Guitarist, songwriter, actor Duane Eddy born Corning, New York in April 1938.

His instrumental hit records made famous the “Twangy” guitar sound which used the Sixth or bass string on his guitar to play the melody.

He had his first big hit in 1958 with “Rebel Rouser” which he wrote and recorded with Lee Hazelwood his producer.

He was one of the first pop artists to successfully crack the L.P.(long playing record) market. Other releases of the sixties include “Because their Young”, “Shazam”, "Theme From Dixie", “Pepe”, “Dance With the Guitar Man”, ”Twistin’ & Twangin’”, “Boss Guitar” and “Peter Gunn”.

Guitarists, vocalists, singer songwriters The Everly Brothers Don born 1937 in Kentucky. Phil born 1939 in Chicago.

Their country rock style using close vocal harmonies made them one of the most important rock n’ roll artists who have influenced many later performers. They’ve released over 50 albums and had numerous number one records which some have been gold.

Singles of the sixties include “Let It Be Me” , ”Cathy’s Clown”, ”When Will I Be Loved”, “Lucille”, “Walk Right Back”, “Temptation”, “Crying In The Rain”, “Price Of Love and “Love Is Strange”.

Formed in Birmingham, England as the Clifftones in 1963.

They changed their name to The Fortunes and released the single “Summertime, Summertime”.

Their second single “Caroline” was taken by the pirate radio station “Radio Caroline” as their theme tune. They had their two biggest hits in 1965 with “You’ve Got Your Troubles” and “Here It Comes Again.

Other singles of the sixties include “Come On Girl”, “Look Homeward Angel”, “This Golden Ring”, “You Gave Me Somebody To Love”, “Is It Really Worth Your While” and “Our Love Has Gone”.

They continued to have hits into the 1970’s.

The Four Seasons.

Formed in New Jersey they are

one of the most successful groups of the sixties who have continued into the later decades. With their Falsetto leads and tight harmonies and songs written and produced by their keyboard player Bob Gaudio and producer Bob Crewe.

They had three consecutive number one records in 1962 and early 1963 in the Billboard charts they were “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and ”Walk Like a Man”.

Other hits of the sixties include “Candy Girl”, “Dawn (Go Away)”, “Rag Doll” “Save It For Me”, “Let’s Hang On”, “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘bout Me)” and “Working My Way Back To You.

Vocal group The Four Tops were formed in the 1950’s as the Four Aims in Detroit Michigan.

They signed for Motown in 1963 and teamed up with the writing production team Holland, Dozier and Holland. They released "Baby I Need Your Loving”, “Ask the Lonely” and their third single

“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honeybunch)” reached number one in the Billboard Charts. Other records of the sixties include “It’s The Same Old Song”, “Standing in the Shadows of Love”,“Bernadette”, “7- Rooms of Gloom” and arguably the best sixties Motown song “Reach Out I’ll Be There”.

Born 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee. Grammy award winner, Soul singer, Singer/Songwriter, pianist “The Queen of Soul”.

Aretha Franklin

At an early age Aretha and her sisters were singing gospel music at their father’s church. In the early sixties she released a number of recordings with little commercial success. She signed with Atlantic records and in 1967 she had a hit with "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" followed by the number one single “Respect”. Other records include "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Chain of Fools", "Think" and "I Say a Little Prayer".

Formed in Manchester, England in 1961.

Freddie and the Dreamers

Had their first hit with a cover of the James Ray R&B record “If You Gotta Make a Fool Of Somebody”. They

used comedy dance routines in their act and started a dance craze with their record “Do The Freddie”.

Other records of the sixties include “I’m Telling You Now”, “You Were Made For Me”, “Over You”, “I Love You Baby”, “I Understand”,

“A Little You” and “Thou

Shalt Not Steal”.

Marvin Pentz Gay Jnr. Born 2nd April 1939 In Washington D.C.

Marvin Gaye

Singer , songwriter, arranger, pianist, drummer he joined Tamla Motown in 1961 and had a hit the following year with the R&B record “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”.

This led to a succession of hit sixties singles including "Hitch Hike", "Pride and Joy”, "Can I Get a Witness" "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", "Ain't That Peculiar", "One More Heartache", "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and the number one record "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"

In April, 1984 he died when he was shot by his father after an argument.

Formed in Liverpool as the Mars Bars in 1959.Changed to

Gerry & The Pacemakers

They were the second group to be managed by Brian Epstein who quickly secured them a recording contract.

They were the first act to have their first three released singles go to number one in the U.K. charts with “How Do You Do It”, “I Like It” and what later became the anthem for Liverpool Football Club “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

Other singles included “ I'm The One”, “Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying”, “It's Gonna Be Alright”, “Ferry Cross The Mersey”, “I'll Be There” and “Walk Hand In Hand”.

Cult band the Grateful Dead formed San Francisco in 1965 changed their name from The Warlocks.

Their fans the “Deadheads” would watch their long, innovative, wandering, improvised live concerts where some of the songs were recorded and used on their albums.

They released a number of unsuccessful singles in the sixties which Included "Stealin'", "The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)", "Viola Lee Blues", "Dark Star", "Dupree's Diamond Blues" and "China Cat Sunflower".

Born Johnny Allen Hendrix November ,1942 in Seattle, Washington. Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist he played with various backing bands in the U.S. where he honed his excellent guitar work. Chas Chandler brought him to London and helped him form the Jimi Hendrix Experience

with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

Their first release “Hey Joe” reached the top ten in the U.K. Other singles include "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Burning of the Midnight Lamp", "All Along the Watchtower" and “Crosstown Traffic". Studio albums released were “Are You Experienced ?”, “Axis: Bold as Love” and “Electric Ladyland”.

Formed Manchester, England in 1963 as The Heartbeats.

Herman’s Hermits

They were one of the most commercially successful groups to be part of what was known as the Brits invasion of America.

In 1964 they released the Goffin & King composition “I’m Into Something Good” which was produced by Mickie Most and reached number one in the U.K charts.

Other records of the sixties include “Silhouettes”, “Wonderful World”, “A Must To Avoid”, “No Milk Today”, “I'm Henry The Eighth I Am”, “Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter”,”There's A Kind Of Hush”, “Sleepy Joe”, “Sunshine Girl”, Something's Happening” and “My Sentimental Friend”.

Formed Manchester, England in 1962. The Hollies

signed with EMI Parlophone records and in 1963 released their first singles “(Ain't That) Just Like Me”, “Searchin”, and “Stay”. With their close harmonies and excellent musicianship they continued to be one of the best groups of the sixties.

Other releases included their number one “I’m Alive”, “Just One Look”, “Look Through Any Window”, “I Can’t Let Go”, “Bus Stop”, “Stop! Stop! Stop!”, “On A Carousel”, “Carrie Anne”, “King Midas In Reverse”, “Jennifer Eccles”, “Listen To Me”, “Sorry Suzanne” and “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother”.

Arnold George Dorsey born Madras, India in 1936. He began his singing career as Gerry Dorsey. He joined manager Gordon Mills and changed his name to

Engelbert Humperdinck

In 1967 his third record release on the Decca Label “Release Me” hit the number one spot in the U.K. charts and a string of hits followed including “There Goes My Everything”, “ Am I That Easy To Forget”, “A Man Without Love”, “ Les Bicyclettes De Besize”, “The Way It Used To Be”, “ I'm A Better Man”, “Winter World Of Love” and the record played at most weddings which reached number one in Britain “The Last Waltz”.

The Isley Brothers

Formed the 1950’s in Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally four brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon who died in a road accident. They wrote and recorded “Shout” which later sold over a million records and became a hit for Joey Dee and the Starlighters and also Lulu & the Luvvers. In 1962 they had their first top forty hit with “Twist and Shout” which was covered by a number of artists including the Beatles. They later signed with Tamla Motown and had hits with the Holland-Dozier-Holland compositions "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", "Put Yourself in My Place" and "Behind a Painted Smile". They continued to be a top attraction in both the U.S. And U.K.

Jan & Dean

Los Angeles born William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence

Were a rock n’ roll duo who became better known for their “Surf Music”. They signed with Liberty Records and released a few singles before getting their number one "Surf City". These included . "A Sunday Kind of Love" , "Who Put the Bomp" and

"Linda".

Other sixties records released were "Honolulu Lulu", "Drag City", "Dead Man's Curve", "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena", "Ride The Wild Surf" and "Batman!". After this release in 1966, Jan had a serious car accident from which he received severe head injuries.

Formed 1965, in San Francisco California.

Jefferson Airplane

Began as a psychedelic,hippie

group merging folk, pop and rock into what later became known as west - coast rock. In 1966 they recorded their first album “Jefferson Airplane Takes Off” which they took three singles from without any success. Their second album “Surrealistic Pillow” went gold and the singles from the album “"Somebody to Love" and “White Rabbit" were both hits.

Other single releases of the

sixties include "Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil", "Two Heads", "Watch Her Ride", "Greasy Heart", "Crown of Creation", "Plastic Fantastic Lover" and "Volunteers".

Tom Jones

Born Thomas Woodward, June 1940, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. He began his musical career in the group Tommy Scott and the Senators which later changed to the Squires. He was spotted by Gordon Mills who signed him with Decca records after changing his name to Tom Jones. In 1965 his second single “It’s Not Unusual” reached number one in the U.K. Charts. Other records of the sixties include “Once Upon A Time”, “What's New Pussycat”, “Green Green Grass Of Home”, “Detroit City”,“I'll Never Fall In Love Again”, “I'm Coming Home”, “Delilah”, “Help Yourself ”, “Love Me Tonight” and “Without Love”

Formed 1965 in San Francisco Big Brother & The Holding Co. were known as the backing group for the blues singer Janis Joplin (nicknamed Pearl) born in 1943, Texas, U.S.A.. She joined the group in June 1966 and they became one of the most formidable live groups of the 60’s. They released the album “Cheap Thrills” which turned multi platinum.

She left Big Brother in 1968 and formed the Kozmic Blues Band. She died from drug and alcohol abuse on the 4th October 1970.

Federick Heath born 1939, in Willesden, London.

He formed Johnny Kidd (and the Pirates) in 1959.

They sometimes appeared on stage wearing full pirate costumes, and he adorned an eye patch covering his right eye.

They had their first hit in 1959 with the Rock n’ Roll classic “Please Don’t Touch”.

Records released in the sixties included “Shakin’ All Over”,

“Restless”, “Linda Lu”, “A Shot of Rhythm and Blues”, “I’ll Never Get Over You”, “Hungry for Love” and “Always and Ever”.

He died in an Automobile accident in October, 1966 in Bury, Lancashire.

Formed in London 1963 The Kinks consisted of Dave Davies, Peter Quaife, Mick Avory and Ray Davies who’s songwriting talents are up there with the best. Their third single “You Really Got Me” reached number one in the U.K. Charts in September 1965. This was followed by a succession of sixties hits composed by Ray Davies which included “All Day And All Of The Night”, “Tired Of Waiting for You”, “Everybody's Gonna Be Happy”, “Set Me Free”, “See My Friend”, “Till The End Of The Day”, “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion”, “Sunny Afternoon”, “Dead End Street”, “Waterloo Sunset”, “Autumn Almanac”, “Wonderboy”, “Days”, “Plastic Man” and “Victoria”.

They were one of the most influential groups of the 60’s.

Formed in Atlanta in the fifties as the pips they later changed to Gladys Knight And The Pips.

They had early chart successes but didn’t make an impact until they joined Motown in 1966.They released "Just Walk in My Shoes", "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me", "Everybody Needs Love" and their biggest 60’s hit "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.

Other sixties releases include "The End of Our Road", "It Should Have Been Me", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Didn't You Know (You'd Have to Cry Sometime)", "The Nitty Gritty" and "Friendship Train".

Born William Ashton in 1943,

Bootle, Merseyside. Billy J. Kramer signed with Brian Epsteins’s NEMS and teamed up with the Manchester based group the Dakotas. Their first three hit records “Do You Want To Know A Secret”, “Bad To Me” and “I'll Keep You Satisfied” were composed by Lennon & McCartney.

Other songs recorded in the sixties include the number one record “Little Children”,

“From A Window”, “Trains And Boats And Planes”,

“Neon City” and “Colour Of My Life”.

Formed in London in 1968 blues, rock, heavy metal band Led Zeppelin consists of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham.

They rose from the ashes of The Yardbirds and changed their name after completing a Scandinavian tour as The New Yardbirds. Their two sixties albums both sold multi platinum “Led Zeppelin” and “Led Zeppelin II” as did most of their later albums.

Singer,Songwriter, Pianist Jerry Lee Lewis “nicknamed the Killer” was born in Ferriday, Louisiana in 1935.

In 1957 he had his first smash hits with ”Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. In his live shows he would kick away his stool, stand up, play with his feet, jump on top of his piano and wave the microphone around in a frenzy. His records of the sixties include "What'd I Say", "Hi Heel Sneakers", "To Make Love Sweeter For You" and "One Minute Past Eternity".

Folk, Rock, pop group the Lovin’ Spoonful formed 1965 in New York. Their self penned compositions mainly constructed by John Sebastion gave them a string of sixties hits including

"Do You Believe In Magic",

"You Didn't Have to Be So Nice", "Daydream", "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?", "Summer in the City" "Rain on the Roof", "Nashville Cats" and "Darlin' Be Home Soon". By 1968 their founder members Zalman Yanovsky